PAN Foundation and Living Beyond Breast Cancer announce new alliance to provide support for people living with metastatic breast cancer
For immediate release
PAN Foundation contact:
Margaret Figley, Director of Communications
Phone: 202-661-8074
E-mail: mfigley@panfoundation.org
Living Beyond Breast Cancer contact:
Kevin Gianotto, Associate Director, Marketing and Corporate Relations
Phone: 484-708-1547
E-mail: kevin@lbbc.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 12, 2016) – The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation and Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) today announced that they are launching a new alliance to offer holistic support for people living with metastatic breast cancer. The alliance will enable the organizations to leverage the PAN Foundation’s metastatic breast cancer financial assistance programs and LBBC’s support and resources to ensure patients have access to the full range of resources they need to best manage their disease.
“The PAN Foundation has worked for years to ensure that underinsured people living with metastatic breast cancer are able to access their critical medical treatments,” said PAN President and CEO Dan Klein. “Joining forces with Living Beyond Breast Cancer enables us to provide patients with support beyond co-payment assistance, and to connect them with a compassionate community and resources that address the physical and emotional complexities of metastatic breast cancer.”
According to the American Cancer Society,1 there were more than 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and over 60,000 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer in 2015. Approximately 6-10 percent of initial breast cancer diagnoses are metastatic and data suggest an estimated 25 percent of early-stage diagnoses will become metastatic. Nearly 150,000 people are living with metastatic, or stage IV breast cancer in the United States.
“This partnership will allow women living with metastatic breast cancer receiving co-pay assistance through the Patient Access Network Foundation an opportunity to access our resources to help them better understand their diagnosis, learn more about their treatment options and connect with one another,” said Living Beyond Breast Cancer CEO Jean A. Sachs, MSS, MLSP. “These resources include special sections of lbbc.org, LBBC guides and publications written specifically for the metastatic breast cancer community, a peer-to-peer Breast Cancer Helpline and many volunteer opportunities.”
Patients who qualify for the PAN Foundation’s Metastatic Breast Cancer program are eligible to receive up to $12,000 per year in financial assistance. Eligible patients must reside and receive treatment in the United States, must have Medicare health insurance, and the medication for which they seek assistance must be covered by their insurance and treat the disease directly. In addition, patients must fall at or below 500 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
Patients, or advocates and caregivers applying on their behalf, can apply for assistance using the PAN Foundation’s online patient portal (www.panapply.org), or by calling 1-866-316-PANF (7263), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. To learn more about PAN’s more than 50 disease-specific programs, visit www.panfoundation.org.
About the PAN Foundation:
The PAN Foundation is an independent, nationwide 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing help and hope to underinsured patients who are unable to afford the out-of-pocket expenses for their prescribed medications. Since 2004, PAN has provided over $1 billion in financial assistance to more than half a million patients who would otherwise be unable to afford their medications. To learn more, visit www.panfoundation.org.
About Living Beyond Breast Cancer:
Founded in 1991, Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is a national nonprofit organization connecting more than 500,000 people a year with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. LBBC addresses the current needs of people affected by breast cancer, whether they are newly diagnosed, in treatment, recovery or living with a history of or managing a metastatic form of the disease. Resources are developed in collaboration with the nation’s leading oncologists, health professionals and ally organizations, and are delivered by people who understand the physical and emotional complexities of breast cancer. LBBC offers its programs and services in a variety of printed and digital formats; most are free of charge. For more information, visit LBBC.ORG.